The Definitive List: 7 Fastest People In The World And The Records They Hold (Updated December 2025)

The title of "Fastest Person in the World" is perhaps the most prestigious and fiercely debated in all of sports. As of today, December 11, 2025, the undisputed holder of the all-time world record for the 100-meter sprint—the gold standard for human speed—remains Jamaican legend Usain Bolt. However, the current fastest *active* sprinter who holds the title of Olympic Champion is a different athlete entirely, making the answer a fascinating blend of historical records and current dominance.

This article dives deep into the metrics of human speed, separating the all-time world records from the current champions. We will explore the legendary times set by Bolt and Florence Griffith-Joyner, and analyze the intense rivalry of the 2024 season that saw a new generation of sprinters pushing the limits of the 100m dash.

Usain Bolt: The World Record Holder and Fastest Man of All Time

Usain Bolt, often referred to by his nickname "Lightning Bolt," is the definitive answer to the question of who is the fastest person in the world. His records are so far ahead of his competitors that they have stood unchallenged for over a decade, cementing his status as a global icon and a statistical anomaly in athletic history.

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Usain Bolt: Full Biography and Records

• Full Name: Usain St. Leo Bolt
• Born: August 21, 1986, Trelawny Parish, Jamaica
• Nationality: Jamaican
• Height: 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
• Olympic Medals: 8 Gold Medals
• World Records Held: 100m, 200m, and 4x100m Relay
• Retirement: Retired from track and field in 2017

The Unbreakable 100m World Record

Bolt set the current 100-meter world record on August 16, 2009, at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany. His time was a stunning 9.58 seconds.

To put this into perspective, Bolt’s record is the largest margin of improvement in the 100m record since the beginning of electronic timing. He ran the final 50 meters of that race in just 4.14 seconds.

What Was Usain Bolt's Top Speed?

During his record-breaking 9.58-second run, Usain Bolt reached a peak speed that is almost unimaginable for a human. Scientists measured his maximum velocity between the 60 and 80-meter mark of the race.

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• Peak Speed: 44.72 kilometers per hour (km/h)
• Equivalent Speed: 27.33 miles per hour (mph)

His average speed for the entire 100m race was approximately 37.58 km/h. This incredible burst of power and sustained velocity is what separates him from every other sprinter in history.

The Fastest Man and Woman of the Current Era (2024 Olympic Champions)

While Usain Bolt holds the all-time speed record, the title of "Fastest Man Alive" often goes to the reigning Olympic or World Champion. The 2024 Paris Olympics provided a new, exciting answer to this question, though a closer look at the times reveals a complex picture.

The Men's 100m: Noah Lyles vs. Kishane Thompson

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games 100m final was one of the closest in history, resulting in a photo-finish that highlighted the incredible talent of the current generation of sprinters.

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• Olympic Champion (Fastest Man Alive): Noah Lyles (USA)
• Winning Time: 9.784 seconds (Gold Medal)
• Silver Medalist: Kishane Thompson (Jamaica)
• Silver Time: 9.789 seconds (Silver Medal, separated by just 5 thousandths of a second)

Crucial 2024 Speed Fact: Although Noah Lyles is the Olympic Champion, Kishane Thompson holds the fastest time recorded in 2024. Thompson clocked an astonishing 9.75 seconds at the Jamaican Championships, which is the fastest 100m time run by any athlete since Usain Bolt retired in 2017.

The Women's 100m: Florence Griffith-Joyner's Enduring Legacy

The women's 100m world record is held by the enigmatic American sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner, known as "Flo-Jo." Her record, set in 1988, is one of the most durable and controversial in track and field history, with some controversy over the wind reading at the time.

• All-Time Women's World Record Holder: Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA)
• World Record Time: 10.49 seconds

In the current era, Jamaican sprinters like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah have come close, but Flo-Jo's time remains the standard for female speed.

Beyond the 100m: Other World Speed Records

To truly understand the fastest people in the world, one must look beyond the 100m sprint. Speed comes in many forms, from the sustained velocity of a 200m dash to the endurance of a marathon. These athletes demonstrate the peak of human performance across various distances, providing a more complete picture of topical authority on speed.

Sprinting World Records (Men and Women)

Usain Bolt’s dominance extends to the 200m, while the 400m record is held by a South African star.

Men's World Records:

• 200 Meters: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) — 19.19 seconds (2009)
• 400 Meters: Wayde van Niekerk (South Africa) — 43.03 seconds (2016)

Women's World Records:

• 200 Meters: Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) — 21.34 seconds (1988)
• 400 Meters: Marita Koch (East Germany) — 47.60 seconds (1985)

Endurance World Records: The Fastest Over Long Distances

For a different measure of speed—sustained velocity over a grueling distance—the marathon world records represent the pinnacle of endurance running. These records are constantly being broken, providing the freshest data on human stamina.

Men's Marathon World Record:

• Holder: Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya)
• Time: 2 hours, 0 minutes, 35 seconds (2:00:35)
• Set: October 8, 2023, at the Chicago Marathon.

Women's Marathon World Record:

• Holder: Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya)
• Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes, 56 seconds (2:09:56)
• Set: October 2024, at the Chicago Marathon, shattering the previous record by nearly two minutes.

The True Meaning of "Fastest Person in the World"

The debate over "who is the fastest person in the world" is a fascinating discussion that touches on sports history, physics, and current athletic performance. The simple answer is Usain Bolt, whose 9.58-second 100m record remains the benchmark for raw human velocity.

However, the narrative is constantly evolving. The 2024 season has shown that the current crop of sprinters, led by Olympic Champion Noah Lyles and the year's fastest man, Kishane Thompson, are closer than ever to challenging Bolt's legacy. The world record is a testament to an all-time peak, but the Olympic title and the fastest time of the year indicate who holds the crown in the present moment. Only time will tell if a new athlete can break the 9.58-second barrier and claim the undisputed title of the fastest person in history.